Car-pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns



dan.. 29', 19.24.

1,482,228 w. L. HANLEY, -JR CAR PUSHING APPARATUS FOR TUNNEL KILNS Filed April 17'. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l RNE Y I Jam.4 29, 1924.

W. L. HANLEY, JR

CAR PUSHING APPARATUS FOR TUNNEL KILNS Filed April 17, 1925 3 1Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l h u I RNEY a I En l aan. 29, 1924.

- l;482,228 w. L. HANLEY, JR Y CAR PUSHING APPARATUS FOR TNNEL KILNS Filed April 17, 192s mts-'sheet 'b I, ,l y @a :5S Ik l "if Q ff l ql S l 5:' @E f5@ Patented Jan. 29, 1924. i

STATES 'I' E T5 CAR-PUSHING APPARATUS FOR TUNNEL KILNS.

Application led April 17, 1923. Serial No. 632,763.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I,`l7V1LLrAi/rk L. HANLEY, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Bradford, in the county of McKean andV State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car- Pushing Apparatus for Tunnel Kilns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invsnticn, such as will enable others skilled in the art rto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter disclosed, refermce being had to the accompanying drawings which show one embodimentof the sameselected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully .disclosed in the following` description and-claims.

My present invention relates to tunnel kilns of the kind in which the goods to be treated are placed on trucks or cars which longitudinally throughout the length of the tunnel kiln, the cars or trucks extending normally from` one end of the kiln to the other and the entire train being periodically advanced a car length at a time for the purpose of inserting a fresh car at the forward ond of the kiln and discharging the rear car of the train at the rear end of the kiln. In kilns of this character it is usual to move the entire train by force exerted upon the car at the forward end of the kiln, a car pushing mechanism being employed for this purpose. In the use of a tunnel kiln for the purpose of treatingcoarse clay products such as brick, tile` etc., it is essential, in order to economically employ the expensive tunnel type of kiln, that the greatest quantity possible of the goods shall. be treated continuously and uniformly during the operation of the kiln. These coarse clay products, and especially brick, lwhen loaded upon trucks or cars so as to enablethe maximum capacity of the kiln to be utilized for treating or firing the same, necessarily impose an enormousweight'upon each car and the force required to propel 'a trainwof such heavily loaded cars through the .tunnel kiln is necessarily very great. Again, 1in iring` brick and other coarse 'clay products, .they

are hacked or piled up'on 'the supporting sur-` f faces of the trucks in a well known manner in superimposed layers so as to form stacks or piles on each car, of considerable height, and it is necessary that the power applied for the purpose of intermittently imparting a forward movement to the train shall be so gradually applied and so graduallyreleasd as not to injuriously jar the piles of bricks on the trucks, as otherwise these piles of bricks are liable to be toppled from the cars with the rSsult of producing what is termed a wreck within the kiln, by throwing the bricks against the lateral portions of the kiln or between trucks upon the rails.y Such a wreck not only results in the destruction of a certain quantity of the goods under treatment, but what is more important it usually necessita-tes the withdrawal of all the trucks of the train from the kiln and the cooling vof the interior of the kiln so as to enable vworkmen to enter and make the necessary repairs, the cost of such repairs and the further cost of interruption of production being very serious items. are moved over rails or tracks extending In carrying out my invention I employ a reciprocating pushing member in associa tion with means for imparting to it both a horizontal reciprocating movement longitudinally of the kiln, and a vertical movement into and out of operative relation with a part connected with the car frame it is intended to engage. I also prefer to apply power to this reciprocating member by means of a sprocket chain which is not end less but which engages a driving sprocket to which power is 'applied from a suitable motor in both directions, and with such speed reduction that the movement of the pushing member into engagement with the last truck of the train, and the application of power to the entire train forpropelling it, and also the release lof the train from the action of the pushing member, arev accomplished so gradually that no appreciable or injurious jarring of the goods carried by the cars results.l Y I also prefer to'provide a counter-balancey weight for returning the pushing member and sprocketchainto normal position after the train has been advanced the length of a car and means for 'automatically insuring the vertical movement of the pushing member into and out of operative position.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l represents a plan view of my improved pushing mechanism for tunnel kilns, it being shown in connection with a porti-on of the walls of the kiln, andthe truck carrying rails, `the walls fbeing indicated in section.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line a-a of Fig. Y1.

Fig. 3 represents a transversesection.

Fig. 4.- is a detail plan view of the reciprocating pushing member, `guiding 'and supporting frame, and showing its connection with the driving sprocket chain and motor balance connection.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the same, 'partly in Section, illustrating the pushing member in operative position, and in engagement with la part of the `car or truck, also showing the'means for the 'automatically vertical movement of the pushingmeni'b'er into and out of operative position. ,A

, l`Referring to the drawings, 1,. represents the side 'wallsof fa tunnel kiln yat the portion ,thereof near the front or entrance of the kiln. 2, represents a car lor truc'kof any usual or preferred construction, illustrated -in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and capable "of supporting the l,weight lof thearticles to be fired, it being understood that a series of trucks extending the entire length of :the kiln are employed in juxtaposition one to another, constituting a train. 3, represents the rails engaged by the truck wheels and extending longitudinally through the kiln 4, .represents my improved' longitudinally reciprocating and vertically movable pushing member, which, in the form s howtnlin the drawings, lcomprises a bar, preferably of wrought metal as iron yor steel, :and provided at its forward end with 'an upwardly extending projection ror lug, 5, 'and va bearing 4portion or heel, 6, on its 4lower |face, said pushing i'nember being provided at its rear end with means for engaging ia. pivot bolt, indicated at 7. 'The pushing member, il, is pivotally coiniected with a longitudinally fnvalile frame', "comprising side bars, 18, Connected :by `a horizontal plate, Y9, screwed or bolted thereto, the pivot bolt, 7, extending through theV side plates, `8, andthe pushing inefi'iber, 4, and being provided outside of the 'side plates, 8, with supporting-frollers,f-'-10, which 'engage and roll dpon horizontal tracks or guides, indicated fat 1'1, extending longitudinally of the kiln and preferably -centrally between the "rails, 3 3, for a distance ,somewhat greater than the length of a single car or truck. These guide rails may he fornied of angle iron hai/'ing vertically and 'horizontally disposed flanges and 'supported in position by 'lateral brackets, 12, secured to horiz'ontalsupports extending longitudinally of the tu'nnejl, or they may Ibe formed "as "a trough `fhavin'g up- 'turne'd lateral edges andlsecured -n the'same mannen t' e supports foi-fthe jtrougih 'being preferably V'frrned of masonry for` cem'ent. The forward end of the frame side bars,

8-8, are connected to a massive sprocket chain, indicated at 13, which may rest upon and be supported by the guides, 11, or if preferred the pivots, 14C, of the chain may be provided with anti-friction rollers, 15, at opposite sides, as indicated in Fig. 5, although this is not essential. At the extreme forward end of the trough formed by the guides, 11, a recess, indicated at 16, is provided, having a bottom portion, 17, below the lever of t-he horizontal flanges of the guides, 11, and having an upwardly inclined cam portion, 18, at .the rear end of the said recess lleading up to the lever of the horizontal flanges of the guides, I11. As will be readily seen, if the reciprocating frame, 8, and sprocket chain is moved rearwardly past the `inclined cam, 18, the heel, 6, of the pushing member, 4', will slide down the incline, 18, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, permitting the pushing member to drop into the position therein shown within the recess, 16, Iand carrying the lug, 5, out of the path of the lug-engaging portion of the cars so that an `additional carcan be pushed into the kiln and moved over `the top of the pushing mechanism until its lug engaging' portion, indicated at in Fig. 5, is forward of 'the position occupied by the lug when `raised to the level of the guides, 11. It will also kbe seen that the forward movement of sional strain to which this shaft is subjected,

it is made of very `large diameter and it is connected with the power mechanism Aby reducing gearing so that `it maybe rotated at extremely 'slow speen, practically imperceptible 'to the eye, nin 'order that no `jarring of the lpiles of bricks or other goods on the cars shall be effected. In lthe drawings, I have shown a system of gearing which has given excellent results in practice, 'and I will describe the same, lalthoug'gjh it will be understood that the particular Vpower mechanism 4employed'and the `particular means of transmitting this motion to the driving shaft, may be varied considerably in different installations without `departing from my inlVentron. In *the presen-t instance, the power which I emp'loy is an electric motor, which, on laccount of the zgreat speed reduction between it and the driving shaft, 21, may be of `comparatively small power, thus effecting a fgreat economy of operation. The motor is indicatedat, 22, andl is here shown asA connected by gears, 23, 24, with a worm shaft,

25, provided with a worm (not shown) engaging a worm wheel, 27, on a second worm shaft, 28, on which is located a second worm (not shown), engaging with the worm wheel, 30, of a counter-shaft, 31. This counter-shaft carries a loosely mounted pinion, 32, which engages a large gear, 33, on the driving shaft, 21. A suitable clutch is provided between the pinion, 32, and the shaft, 31. In this instance I have shown a jaw clutch, one member, 34C, of which is connected with the loose pinion, 32, and the other member, 35, is splined or keyed on the shaft, 31, and is movable longitudinally into and out of operative position by means of a suitable clutch shifting lever (not shown) which may be of any usual or preferred construction. Any desired speed reduction may be employed in the gearing frame. VFor eX- ample, in the form herein shown, the gear ratios are as follows. The pinion, 23, and gear, 241, constitute a one to three drive. The worm gears constitute approximately one to thirty drives each, and the pinion, 32 and gear, 33, constitute a one to live drive, so that a very great reduction in the speed of the moving parts is effected between the motor, 22, operating at high speed, and the driving shaft, 21. The driving shaft, 21, is provided with a massive sprocket wheel, 35, over which the driving chain, 13, passes, and beneath the sprocket wheel, 35, is a pit or receptacle, indicated at 36, into which the free end of the sprocket chain, indicated at 13a, may descend when the pushing apparatus is operated in the direction to push the train of trucks or cars forward through the tunnel. I also prefer to employ a reversible motor operated in any usual or well known manner, although it will be understood that I may use a non-reversible motor, and provide suitable gearing for reversing the direction of the driven parts, if desired. I prefer, however, to employ the reversible motor and eliminate reversing gearing.

I also prefer to provide means for retracting the pushing member, and sprocket chain after the train of cars has beenmoved forward the required distance, so as to leave the pushing apparatus in position to receive another car at the forward or front end of the kiln. In the present instance, I have shown a. counter-weight, 37, movable vertically in a pit, 38, and connected by means of a cable, 39, passing over a sheave, 40, with a plate, 19, secured to the reciprocating frame bars, 8, carrying the pushing member, 4. Suitable means are preferably provided for limiting the rearward movement of the pushing member and chain. For example, I may provide a cushion block, indicated at 41, located at the bottom of the pit to arrest the downward movement of the weight, 37. The return movement of the sprocket chain and pushing member will be resisted by the friction of the drive shaft, 21, and the intermeshing pinion and gear, 32--33, the clutch 34--35, being at the time disengaged, so that the weight,'37, will restore the sprocket chain and pushing member to the position indicated in Fig. 2, without ar.

The operation of my improved car pushing apparatus is as follows. Assuming the parts to be in the position indicated in Fig. 2, in which the pushing member, Li, is in its depressed and inoperative position to which it has been retracted by the weight, 37, a car is moved by hand, or otherwise, until the portion, 20, thereof, which is to be engaged by the pushing member, is silghtly forward of the position occupied by the lug, 5, of the pushing member. The clutch, 341-35, is engaged and. the motor, 22, is started, thereby imparting a very slow forward movement through the intermediate gearing before described, to the driving shaft, 21, sprocket, 35, and sprocket chain, 13. As the chain moves forward the heel of the pushing member slides up the incline, 13, see Fig. 5, into operative position in rear of the portion, 20, of the truck, which it is intended to engage and the continued operation of the motor and forward movement of the sprocket chain applies the power of the motor very efficiently and very gradually to the freshly added car of the train and gradually takes up the load. of the entire train until all the cars of the train are moving forwardly toward the delivery end of the kiln, the motion being so gradual that there is no bumping of backlash or jolting of the cars, and no danger of toppling the piles of bricks or other goods carried! thereby. This movement proceeds until the entire train has been moved forward a distance substantially equal to the length of one of the cars or trucks. It will be understood that if the pressure exerted by' the pushing member were relieved there would be a certain amount of backlash in the train which would have a tendency to disturb the balance of bricks or other goods carried thereby. with disastrous results. I therefore, at this point in the operation of the device, reverse the movement of the driving shaft, 21, in this instance by reversing the motor and the movement in the reverse direction takes place at the same slow speed under the action of the reducing gearing, as the forward movement, thereby relieving the great pressure exerted on the last truck by the pushing member sgo gradually and slowly that there is no backlash and no jostling of the loaded cars. As soon as the pushing member has been withdrawn far enough to be out of contact with the member, `2O, of the last truck which it engages, the motor is stopped and the clutch members, 34i-35, are separated by operating a suitable shift-ing lever (not shown)` will Thereupon the counter-balance weight, 37, which has been raised by the forward movement of the sprocket chain and pushing member, settles to the bottom of its pit, 38, and draws back the pushing member and sprocket chain to their normal positions, indicated in Fig. 2, the weight coming to rest on the cushion, 4l. This movement under the action of the counter-balance weight will of course be much more rapid than the operation under the action of the motor, but will be retarded by the friction of the driving shaft and gears, 32 and 33, as before described, so that the parts will come to rest without shock. The counterbalanfe uf'eight enables me to restore the parts to normal position in a very simple and expeditious manner, without the necessity of providing special gearing, and also effects an 'economy of power, as the motor is thrown out of operation as soon as the pushing member has been disengaged from the last car.

It will be understood that in place of the electric motor, 22, I may employ any other form of prime motor, or I may drive from line shafting or in any other desired way. The various parts of the apparatus are made in such a manner as to provide the greatest possible strength and the bearings for the various moving parts are supported upon heavy masonry or cement bases or upon heavy metal beams, so as to provide a rigid and durable construction. By employing a sprocket chain which is not endless and which is given a reciprocating movement instead of a continuous movement in the same. direction, I am able to obtain all the advantages of the sprocket chain drive for the pushing member without any change in the relation between the pushing member itself and the part on the rearmost car or truck which it engages, and I am also enabled to back od the pushing member very slowly and gradually so as to relieve the enormous pressure necessarily exerted on the rear car for the purpose ofl moving the entire train forward, without any shock to the cars of the train and without any danger of backlash or breakage of the driving mechanism.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l In a. car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a horizontally disposed. sprocket chain, means for i'noving said chain longitudinally in both directions, a pushing member having a pivotal connection with said chain, and having a car engaging part movable vertically into and outl of operative relation with a car to be pushed, and means for engaging the movable pushing member for elevating said car engaging part into and holding it in operative position.

2. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a horizontally disposed sprocket chain, means for moving said chain longitudinally in bothA directions, a horizontally disposed guide for supporting said chain, a pushing member pivotally connected with a portion of said chain supported by said guide, and provided with a car engaging portion movable vertically into and out of operative relation with a car to be pushed, and a cam for engaging the vertically movable portion of said pushing member for elevating it into operative position, said guide being provided with means for holding said pushing member in operative position duringl a portion of its' longitudinal movement with said chain.

3. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a horizontally disposed sprocket chain, a pushing member pivotally connected therewith and having a car engaging part movable vertically into and out of operative relation with a car to be pushed, means for applying power to said chain to move it and said pushing member forwardly, a counter balance for moving said chain and pushing member back to normal position, a cam for raising the vertically movable portion of said pushing member into operative position, and supporting means for supporting said chain in horizontal position and supporting said pushing member in operative position.

4. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a pushing member, a horizontal reciprocating sprocket chain connected therewith, a power operated driving sprocket engaging said chain, and means for operating said driving sprocket in both direction.

5. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combina-tion of a pushing member, a horizontal reciprocating sprocket chain connected therewith'7 a power operated driving sprocket engaging said chain. means for operating said driving sprocket in both directions. means for disconnecting the driving sprocket from the power operating mechanism, and independent means for restoring the pushing member and sprocket chain to normal position.

6. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of ka. pushing member, a horizontal reciprocating sprocket chain connected therewith, a driving sprocketengaging said chain, power operated means for rotatingsaid sprocket in both directions, clutch mechanism interposed between the driving sprocket and said power operated mechanism, and a counter-balance operatively connected with said pushingy member and sprocket chain for'restoring them to normal position.

7. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a pushing member, a horizontal reciprocating sprocket chain connected therewith, a driving sprocket engagaging said chain, power operated mechanism including reducing gearing connected with said driving sprocket and operable for driving said sprocket in both directions, a clutch for disconnecting the power operated mechanism from the driving sprocket, and a counter-balance conunected with said pushing member and sprocket chain for restoring them to normal position.

8. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination or' a pushing member, reciprocable horizontally, power operated means including reducing gearing for imparting slow movement to said pushing member in both directions, and independent means for moving said pushing member in a ydirection to retract the same to normal position.

9. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination oir' a pushing member, power actuated mechanism including reducing gearing for imparting slow movement to said pushing member in both directions, means for disconnecting said power operated mechanism from the pushing member, and a counterbalance weight connected with said pushing member tor retracting the same to normal position alter operation..

10. In a. car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a reciprocatin frame, a pushing member pivotally mounted in said frame and having a part capable of vertical movement with respect to the frame, a sprocket chain connected with the frame, a horizontal track for supporting said frame, a power operated driving sprocket engaging said chain, reciproeating means for sai-d frame, and a cam located in the path of said pivoted pushing member for elevating it into operative position.

11. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a horizontal supporting track, a reciprocating frame supported thereon, a. reciprocating sprocket chain connected with said frame and supported by said track, a pushing member carried by said frame, a driving sprocket engaging said sprocket chain, a counter-balance weight and a flexible connection between the counter-balance weight and said frame.

. 12. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a pushing member movable vertically into and out of operative position, a horizontally movable sprocket chain operatively connected with said pushing member, for moving the same horizontally, a driving sprocket engaging said chain, a prime motor, reducing gearing interposed between the prime motor and said sprocket for driving the same in both directions, 'a clutch interposed between said driving sprocket and the motor, and means independent of the motor Jfor moving said pushing member and sprocket chain horizontaliy in a direction to restore them to normal position.

13. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a horzontal reciprocating frame, a supporting track -tor the same, a pushing member pivoted in said frame and capable of vertical movement into and out of operative position, a reciprocating sprocket chain connected with said frame, a driving sprocket engaging said chain, driving mechanism including reducing gearing or driving said sprocket in both directions, a clutch interposed between said sprocket and said driving mechanism, a counter-balance weight, a flexible connection from said weight to said frame, and a cam located in the path of said pivoted pushing member for elevating the same into operative position.

14. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a horizontally disposed non-endless sprocket chain, a horizontal supporting guide therefor, a power operated sprocket engaging said chain, a counter balance operatively connected to said chain, a pushing member pivotally connected to said chain and having a vertically movable car engaging portion, a stationary cam for engaging said pushing member for raising the car engaging portion thereof into operative relation with a car to be pushed, and means for holding said pushing member in operative position during the reciprocating movements of said chain.

15. In a car pushing apparatus for tunnel kilns, the combination of a horizontally disposed, reciprocable, non-endless sprocket chain a power operated sprocket engaging said chain adjacent to one end a counter balance connected to said chain adjacent to its other end a pushing member connected to said chain and provided with a vertically movable car engaging portion, and means for raising said car engaging portion of the pushing member into and holding it in operative relation with a car to be pushed.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

' WILLIAM LEE HANLEY, JR. 

